Gift advice?

[RobW]

So, I have a buddy getting married later this year and I'd like to get him a brush for a gift. Here's what I'm considering:
1) he's currently using a Parker silvertip, seems to like it just fine
2) likes creams and bowls/scuttle lathers
3) soft tips more a priority than scrubbiness
4) I would like to keep the budget ~$100

My main question is, what range of brush characteristics (loft height/diameter) should I be considering here? Fan vs bulb?

I think the small silvertip Rooney's are going to give the best performance/value here, but the custom Rudy Vey are hard to pass up.

The T&H Classic (small) in Green Onyx seems like a stellar bet with a bit of a more characteristic handle. Is the TH Classic the same as the Rooney shape 3/size 1? This is another brush in strong consideration, and I know that T&H is contracting with Rooney, but I can't really tell if there's much difference between these brushes...are the "small" Rooney brush handles big enough for bowl lathers?

At this price point, the Simpson Duke and Classic are both in play, but between a Simpson Best and Rooney Silvertip, a bowl-latherer looking for soft tips should probably go Rooney, right?

Thanks in advance for any and all advice, I really appreciate it!

 

[Occams_Razor]

Couldn't hurt to go with a TGN Silvertip custom from Rudy Vey. It's probably in your budget and it would be something wholly unique in congratulations of a (hopefully) once in a life time event.

I don't know if Rudy does special engraving but maybe you could even get the anniversary date on the bottom of the handle?

 

[mblakele]

I was going to suggest a Rooney after reading the first half of your post, and if soft tips are paramount then I would take Rooney super over Simpson best. A Rooney 3/1 or 2/1 would be a fine bowl latherer. The 1/1 handle is a little shorter, and might be awkward. The T&H you linked looks like a Rooney 3/1, but there have been rumors swirling about T&H moving toward other brushmakers. If you want to be sure, you might try ordering by phone.

The TGN finest would be a great choice too, in the right handle. The knot I bought in December feels extremely soft, because of the curled tips. They can clump together when dry, but when wet you feel the curl rather than the tip.